Corn-harvester.



No. 656,7!4. Patented Aug. 28, |900.

. E. S. BOWKER.

CORN HARVESTER.

(Application filed Oct. 23, 1899.)

4 Shets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

- N www@ No. 656,7I4. Patented Aug. 28, |900.

E. S; BOWKER.

CDRN HARVESTER. v

(Application med 05u23, 1899.)

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No. 656,714. Patented Aug. 28, i900.-

E. S. BWKER.V

CORN HARVESTER. (Appl cat on ledO t 23 1899) (No Model.)

ma@ ecs No. 656,7l4. Patented Aug. 2a, |900.

E. s. BowKEn. v CBN HARVESTER.

(Application led Oct. 23, 1899.)

1m- Illlllll '.7

- l "A illllllllllllllllll HI (No Model.)

I Ik@ iV/f/w r i a f Unire' @raras PATENT Orrron ERNEST S. BOWKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

coReati-mayas'TER.k

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,714, dated August 28,1900. Application filed OctoberZS, 1899. Serial No. 734,480. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST S. BOWKER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the eountyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in corn-harvesters, the object being to provide a harvester adapted to be readily attached to a Wagon and carried thereby and which shall be adapted Ato break the ears of corn from the stalk, husk them, and deliver1 them into the wagon-box.

To such end the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement, a description of which will appear in the following specification and the essential characteristics moredefinitelypointed out in the claims. p

The invention is illustrated in the drawings furnished herewith, of which- Figure l is a plan view of my device in its preferred form, showing the same attached to a wagon. Fig. 2 is a side View thereof. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section, partly broken away, the line of section being indicated in line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation of a pair of supporting-arms and adjacent portions, the View being indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 3 and the forward portion of the machine being out away in the line 4 4 of said figure. Fig. 5 is a detail front view of certain gearing withthe framework of the machine and certain shafts out away in line 5 5 o f Fig. 3. Fig. Gisa detail cross-section in line 6 6 of Fig. 3. .Irignl 7 is a vertical cross-section `through themachine andwagon-wheel, the line of section being indicated at 7 7 in Figsl and. Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-section through the conveyer, the line of section being indicated at 8 8 in Figs. l and 3. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal section with certain parts broken awa Y, the line of section being taken at 9 9 of Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a detail cross-section in line l0 l0 of Figs. l and 9. Fig. l1 is a detail plan View of a supporting-bracket, and Fig. l2 is a detail side elevation of a standard. ,n

Referring to Figs.' l and 2,' the frame of the machine will be seen to consist of two .longitudinally-extending beams A A', connected near their front ends by a U-shapedl plate ct and supportedupon a gudgeon l), secured to the left-hand rear wheelv of a wagon a portion of they box' of which is seen at B. The gudgeon b (see Fig. 7) is provided with a bellshaped enlargement b, adapted to embrace the hub of the wheel, and a flange b2 for clamping it to the` spokes of the latter. The

gudgeon b is journaled in a boX a', (see Fig.

box. Ano eratinU-lever cis fastened u non P s l the shaft and engages a segment c6, whereby the arm c may be oscillated to raise or lower the forward end of the machine `to catch stalks of corn of different heights.

Upon the frame `A Af are secured three brackets or standards D E F, adapted'to support two longitudinally-extending shafts Gr` Gr', rotated by means of suitable gearing,hereinafter described, and having their forward ends squared, as Aseen at gin Fig. 9, to engage square vsockets h, formed in the rear ends of two breaking-rolls H Il', the forward ends of said rolls being journaledin a pair of brackets I I', supported `from the beams A A'. Two diverging arms J` J extend forwardly and downwardly from thebrackets IVI to gather in the stalks of corn andfeed them between the rolls H I-I. These rolls taper t0- ward their forwardends andare milled or otherwise suitably roughened to take a firm holdupon the stalks of corn. They are rotated toward each other, so as to' gradually force the stalks downward and break. off the ears. The squared ends of the shafts lit looselyin the squared sockets, so as to permit of a certain amount of oscillation of the rolls without cramping the shafts. i

The husking of the corn is accomplished by means `of four husking-rolls K K K2 K3, com- IOO posed of some pliable composition, such as rubber, and mounted upon shafts k 7s k2 7c3, journaled in two pairs of oscillating arms M M M2 M3, (see Figs. l and 4,) journaled upon the shafts G G. The upper rolls K K2 are held yieldingly toward the lower ones by means of springs m2, confined between the upper ends of the arms and blocks rm, which are guided in the arms by means of stems m and held upon the shafts by said springs.

The husking-rolls are rotated in the directions indicated in Figs. 4 and '7'. They pull the husk away from the ear and force it out upon the opposite sides of the rolls. The arms M M' M2 M3 are given a slight amount of oscillation upon the shafts G G to accommodate different sizes of ears and are yieldingly drawn toward each other by springs m3 m4, connecting each pair of arms at their upper ends. The amount of movement away from each other isgoverned by an adjusting device (seen in Fig. i) consisting of two adjusting-screws n n', threaded in a nut n2 and passing through a block N, bolted or'otherwise secured upon the members A A/ of the frame. These screws are provided with upwardly-extendingiin gers n3 n4, adapted to engage stops m5 m6 upon the lower ends of the oscillating arms M M'. The stops mr limit the lmovement of the arms toward each other and stops mG in the opposite direction. The nut n2 may be rotated to 'bring the lingers n3 n4toward or away from each other, and jamnuts '11571.6 are provided upon the ends of the screws to clamp them in place. The members of each pair of oscillating arms are connected to the others by rods 7a4 765 k6 707, seated in ears m7 m8 upon the oscillating arms, thus rigidlybracing the oscillating arms. v

The ears of corn are carried between the husking-rolls upon a oonveyer-chain O, pass. ing about two sprocket-wheels O P and a roller o.V (See Fig. 3.) The sprocket-wheel O `is journaled in the bracket D and the roller in two upwardly-extending arms d thereof. (See Fig. 1l.) The sprocket-wheel P is journaled in the standard F, (see Fig. 6,-) its shaft being keptin place by the two shafts G G'. In mounting this wheel in place the sprocket-wheel is rst centered, its pin then put through thel Aopeningfin the standard F (see Fig. 6) and through the wheel. The shafts G G are then inserted to retain the shaft in place. A track or guide Q supports the conveyer-chain O between the roller and sprocket wheel B, said track being carried bytwo brackets@ q', mounted upon the shafts G G (see Fig..3) and secured to the track by screws q2. The standard E supports the rear end of the track Q and is secured thereto by means of a screw Q3.

Adjacent to the sprocket-wheel P is a conveyer R, into which the ears of corn fall and by means of which they are lifted into the wagon' upon which the machine is supported.v

This conveyer consists principally of a conveyer-chain r,passing about two sprocketwheels r r2, one portion of the chain running in the bottom of the trough-shaped box r3, extending to the top of the wagon-box. Upon certain of the links of the chain are fingers r4 to engage the ears and carry them along: A guide r (see Fig. 8) is pivoted to the member A of the framework at r6. and lies uponthe chain covering up the opening. The sprocketwheel r2 is fast upon a shaftr, journaled upon a cross-piece rs, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) and carrying upon its fu rtherend a sprocketrwheelr, connected by a chain r to a sprocket-wheel g2, fast upon theA end of the 'shaft G, the end of the shaft at this point being considerably reduced in size, as seen at g in Fig. 9. The rotation of this shaft moves the conveyer-chain r in the proper direction to deliver the corn in the wagon-box.

The operating parts of the machine are driven by means of a large sprocket-wheel S, (see Figs. l and 2,) mounted upon the spindle h3 and connected to a sprockets by means of a chain s. The sprocket s is fast upon a shaft S2, journaled in a bracket s3, supported by the member A of the frame, said shaft carrying upon its inner end a miter-gear T in mesh with a miter T', fast upon the shaft G. The shafts G G are' geared together by means of gears G2 G3 (see Fig. 5) and are rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows, thereby rotating the breaking-rolls so as to force the stalks of corn downward and break the ears of corn off as they reach the rolls. The lower husking-rolls K K3 are driven by means of pinions u u', secured upon the ends of the shafts 7c 7a3 and'in mesh with the gears G2 G3. The direction of rotation is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7, and the ears` of corn are carried between the four huskingrolls, which vare drawn tightly upon the ears by the springs m3 m4 and the husks pulled off. The delivery-chain O is driven by a bevel-gear T2, fast upon the shaft G and in mesh with a bevelgear T3, preferably formed integral with the sprocket-wheel P, which engages the chain O, as clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 6. Said chain carries the ears of corn between the husking-rolls, after which it drops them into the chute of the conveyer R, in which they are delivered into the wagon.

To prevent the ears of corn from accidentally falling off the machine from the time they are broken from the stalks until they are delivered into the conveyer R, side-boards V V arev shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 9, and l0, the side-boards V being arranged adjacentto the breaking-rolls and the side-boards V adjacent to the sprocket-chain.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a wheel of a wagon and a spindle extending laterally fromvsaid wheel and concentric with the axle, of a frame lcarried by said spindle, rotatable breaking and husking rolls mounted upon said frame, gearing between the spindle and the said rolls, a shaft rotatably supported by the wagon-box,

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an arm upon said shaft connected to the forward end of the frame and an operating-lever fast upon said shaft and adapted by its oscillation to raise or lower the forward end of the same; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a wagon, a spindle supported upon one of the wheels of the wagon and extending laterally therefrom in line with the axle, of afi-ame mounted upon said spindle, a pair of rotatably-mountedV breaking-rolls upon the forward end of the frame, two pairs of rotating husking-rolls, each pair having a limitedoscillation, a conveyor running between said husking-rolls and adapted to carry ears of corn from the breaking-rolls and between the husking-rolls and a second conveyer adapted to receive the ears of corn from the first-named conveyer and deposit them into the wa gon-box substantially as described.

3. The combination with a wagon-wheel, a spindle secured thereon and extending` laterally therefrom, concentric with the axle, of a frame mounted upon said spindle, a pair of breaking-rolls mounted upon said frame, a pair of shafts journaled upon the frame and engaging the breaking-rolls, two oscillating frames journaled upon said shafts and yieldingly connected together, a pair of huskingrolls journaled in each of said frames, gears upon the shafts meshing with each other, pinions connected to the lower husking-rolls in mesh with said gears, a miter-gear upon one of said shafts, a miter-gear journaled upon the frame and in mesh with said rstnamed miter-gear,a sprocket-wheel connected to said second-named miter, a sprocket-Wheel upon the wagon-wheel spindle and a sprocketchain connecting said sprocket-wheels; substantially as described. y

4. The combination with the frame of a corn-husking machine, of a pair of breakingrolls rotatably mounted upon the forward portion of the frame, a pair of shafts journaled .upon said frame and engaging the breaking-rolls, two oscillating frames mounted upon said shafts, two pairs of husking-rolls journaled in said oscillating frames, suitable gearing between said shafts and the lower husking-rolls, a conveyer running between the husking-rolls, a track supported upon the vshafts and carrying the conveyer-chain, a

sprocket-wheel for rotating said sprocketchain, a mitergear connected with the sprocket-wheel, a second miter-gear upon one of the shafts in mesh with said rst-named miter-gear and suitable gearing for rotating said shaft; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a wagon-wheel and a spindle secured thereon and extending laterally therefrom concentric with the axle, of a frame supported upon said spindle,break ing-rolls rotatably mounted upon the forward end of the frame, a pair of shafts journaled upon said` frame and engaging the breakingrolls, two oscillating frames mounted upon said shafts, two pairs of husking-rolls journaled in said frames, suitable gearing between the wagon-wheel, said breaking-rolls and husking-rolls to rotate them in the proper directions, a conveyer-chain running between said husking-rolls,a second conveyer adapted to receive the husked corn from the rstnamed conveyer, a sprocket-wheel mounted upon one of said shafts, a sprocket-wheel connected to the second-named conveyer and a sprocket-chain connecting said sprockets and adaptedto drive the conveyer; substantially as described.

6. The combination with awheel of a wagon, of a spindle secured upon said wheel concentric with the axle thereof, a corn-harvester supported upon said spindle,mechanism upon said corn-harvester for engaging the stalks of cornl to break the ears therefrom and to remove the husk from the ears, and suitable gearing between said spindle and said mechanism for driving the latter; substantially as described.

7. The combination with a wheel of awagou, of a spindle secured upon said wheel concentric with the axle thereof, a corn-harvester mounted upon said spindle, rotatable breaking-rolls and husking-rolls mounted upon said corn-harvester, suitable gearing between the spindle and said breaking and husking rolls and suitable devices connecting the forward end ofthe corn-harvester with the wagonbody adapted to raise or lower said forward end of the corn-harvester; substantially as described. n

. 8. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a wagon and a haryester-frame adapted to be supported by a wheel thereof, of a pair of tapering breaking-rolls mounted uponsaid frame and capable of a slight amount of oscillation at their forward ends and formed with non-circular sockets in their rear ends,

a pair of shafts geared together and engaging the sockets in the rolls and suitable gearing between one of said shafts and the wagonwheel adapted to rotate the breaking-rolls; substantially as described.

9. The combination with a wagon-wheel, of

a spindle secured upon said wheel concentric with the axle thereof, a harvester-frame supported upon saidspindle, a pair of breakingrolls mounted upon said frame and having square sockets in their rear ends, a pairof shafts journaled upon the frame and having square ends engaging the socketsin the breaking-rolls, gear-wheels upon said shafts, meshing with each other, two pairs of huskingrolls, pinions upon the lower members of each pair meshing with the gears upon the shafts and suit-able gearing between one of said shafts `and the spindle, ofthe wagon-wheel rotating the rolls; substantially as described.

10. The combination with the wheel of a wagon, of a spindle secured upon said wheel, concentric with the axle thereof, a corn-harvester supported upon said spindle, mechan- IOO ITO

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4 l r l656,714:

ism upon said corn-harvester for engaging Stateofllinois, this17thdayofOetobenAD.

the stalks of corn to break the eers therefrom 1899.

and suitable gearing between the spindle and v i 3 said mechanism for driving the letter; sub- ERNESrl S LOWKER' 5 stantially as described. Witnesses: v

` In witness whereof I have hereunto set my k CHAS. O. SHERVEY,

hand, at Chicago, in the county of Cook and S. BLISS. 

